Lip closure is a foundational skill not just for eating, but for speech clarity and dental health. Clinically, poor lip closure is often linked to hypotonia (low muscle tone) or sensory processing issues. If a child cannot create a tight seal around a spoon or cup, they often struggle with “bolus management”—keeping food in their mouth—and may rely on mouth breathing, which can affect the development of the jaw and facial muscles.
Feeding therapy targets the orbicularis oris muscle (the muscle surrounding the lips) through specific tactile stimulation and resistive exercises. We work on sensory desensitization for children who find the texture of food on their lips “scary,” while simultaneously building the strength needed to keep the mouth closed during rest and chewing. This improves both the efficiency of eating and the production of “bilabial” speech sounds like /p/, /b/, and /m/.
The “Straw-Sipping” Challenge
Introduce a series of “silly straws” with different loops and diameters. Drinking thicker liquids (like a yogurt smoothie or a fruit puree) through a thin or curly straw forces the lips to work harder to create a vacuum. This is an excellent, low-pressure way to build lip strength while enjoying a snack after a long day at an Al Nahda park.
Specialist FAQ
- My child is just a “messy eater,” is that a problem? Occasional mess is normal, but persistent drooling or food falling out of the mouth after age 2 often signals a need for motor support.
- How does this affect their speech? If the lips are weak, sounds like “B” in “Ball” or “M” in “Mama” will sound muffled or indistinct.
- Is feeding therapy just for “picky eaters”? While we treat picky eating, many of our clients have “motor-based” feeding issues where the physical act of eating is the challenge.
Improve your child’s feeding hygiene and speech foundation. Find us at Neurobloom Rehabilitation Centre, Al Nahda 2, Dubai or call 0507548629 to book an oral-motor assessment.
